Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Danny Frost hung his head as he walked back to his pottery studio. Twelve months ago, when he’d spent the Christmas season in Christmas Grove with his grandmother, parents, and his cousins Atlas and Alison, the small Christmas town had seemed like the perfect place for a fresh start. Not only did he have the precious memories of his grandmother’s last days before she passed, but he had cousins there. Atlas and his wife, Payton, now lived in town when he wasn’t touring with his band. And Zach owned the Christmas tree farm that had been part of the fabric of Christmas Grove for generations.

What better place to finally open the pottery studio he’d been dreaming about for over a decade? After Christmas last year, he’d gone home to San Francisco, sold his apartment, and wound down his accounting business. Then after Atlas and Payton checked out the building that had been for sale on Main Street, they’d reported that it would be perfect for a pottery studio, so he’d purchased it sight unseen. By October, he’d moved and had begun to get his pottery shop ready for his grand opening in November. Never in all of that time had he realized that Marissa Cane, the love of his life and the woman he’d left after only six months of marriage, had relocated to Christmas Grove and opened her own business.

How that had happened, he wasn’t quite sure. Marissa had been one hundred percent a city girl. He knew she’d had fond memories of passing through the town on her trips to Tahoe with her dad, but she’d never expressed interest in living anywhere but the city. Then again, it had been years since they’d last spoken. People changed. Circumstances changed. His certainly had.

Still, he couldn’t help wondering if it was possible that Marissa had moved to Christmas Grove hoping to see him again. After all, she had known that his cousin Zach lived there.

No way.

Why would she think Danny would end up in Christmas Grove? Not to mention the fact that she’d walked into his pottery shop on the night of his grand opening and given him a piece of her mind. She hadn’t been happy that he’d taken up residence in the magical town.

And really, could he blame her?

The way things ended with them… He’d still be angry, too .

He sat at the one table in his pottery studio that he kept clean of any clay and glazes and opened the takeout bag he’d gotten from her pub. So far, he’d done his best to steer clear of Marissa, but that day when he’d tried to call in an order at the pizzeria across the street, he’d learned that they were closed for a private party.

There were other places to get takeout, but he was in the mood for bar food. And he’d just decided that since it appeared that neither of them was going to close shop and move on, it was about time that they learned to live with each other. She didn’t need to ever come into his pottery shop, but she owned the only bar with real pub food in the small mountain town. He couldn’t stay away forever, could he?

No, he definitely couldn’t. Not even if he tried.

He opened the takeout box and then devoured the best damned burger he’d had in months. After he finished off the fries, he cleaned up the area and then went back to his pottery wheel. He had a number of pieces to throw before it was time to meet Jackson.

Danny’s shoulders ached, and he was more than ready for that drink when he walked back into Sleighed. The moment he saw Marissa behind the bar, all of his minor aches and pains vanished. A smile tugged at his lips, but he instantly resumed a neutral expression when she scowled at him.

What had he expected? That she’d magically forgiven him? There had been zero evidence of that when she’d walked into his studio last month and gave him a piece of her mind.

“Danny, good to see you, man,” Jackson said, striding toward him with two mugs of beer. “I got you the lager, but if you’d prefer something else?—”

“It’s perfect,” Danny said, taking one of the mugs. “Thanks.”

“Sure,” Jackson said and nodded toward a table in the corner on the other side of the stone fireplace. They’d met when Jackson had come into the studio asking about classes. He’d wanted a gift certificate for his mother, who’d said she always wanted to learn to play with clay. After they started talking, they’d learned they both had a passion for the outdoors, and they’d bonded over skiing and snowshoeing. And while Danny didn’t have time to spend a day on the slopes, he had taken to early morning snowshoeing excursions with his new friend.

“How’s business?” Jackson asked. “Busy for the holiday?”

“Very.” Danny took a long sip of the beer and made an effort to relax his shoulders. “I never imagined I’d be turning over this much stock so soon. It’s exhausting but a good problem to have.” It was why Danny was working late to throw more mugs and pots. With the Christmas season upon them, both the residents and tourists of Christmas Grove had really embraced his wares.

“That’s great, man.” Jackson took a long pull of his beer. “At this rate, you’ll need to hire help.”

“Are you offering?” Danny asked, raising one eyebrow .

Jackson sputtered out a laugh. “In all my free time? Marissa keeps me pretty busy here.”

“It was worth a shot.” The truth was, he did need someone to man the shop so that he could replenish the shelves that were starting to look a little bare. If he didn’t get someone in soon, his shelves would be empty. “If you know of anyone, send them my way.”

Jackson nodded, looking thoughtful, but ultimately shook his head. “You know, I can’t think of one person who might have some spare time. Most people start hiring seasonal workers before Halloween, and anyone who needed a job has already committed somewhere.”

Danny sighed. He’d heard that from Payton already. How could he have known that he’d need help so soon? Still, being busy was a good problem to have, and he vowed to count his blessings.

“I’m going snowshoeing in the morning,” Jackson said. “Are you in?”

It was their Saturday morning ritual and the one day a week that Danny never missed. He craved the fresh air and silence of the Sierras. If he had time during the week, he’d join Jackson more often, but that was becoming rarer and rarer the closer it got to Christmas. “I wouldn’t miss it. Where are we headed this time?”

While Jackson talked about the trail he’d chosen, Danny heard a faint but distinct voice tell someone that it was time to go. He turned and scanned the bar, instantly locking his gaze on Marissa. She was standing with her balled fists pressed against her hips as she stared down a large man in jeans and a flannel shirt, her fiery energy radiating from her.

A sudden vision of the man grabbing Marissa by the hair and throwing her against the bar as the taser in her hand rolled to the floor flashed in his mind, and before he could spare another thought, he was on his feet and striding toward them.

“I’m not going until I get that drink,” the red-faced man said with a sneer as he leaned over the bar. “You served everyone else.”

Marissa straightened her shoulders and seemed to grow at least two inches taller as she stared the man down. “That isn’t relevant to this situation, sir.” Her voice was steady and filled with ice-cold determination. “By my calculations, you’ve had more than your fair share this evening. You won’t be getting another drink here tonight.”

Danny eyed the woman he’d been in love with since they were both fourteen years old and admired her conviction. She’d always been a fireball, but this version standing in front of him was impressive.

The man looked like he was ready to bite her head off as he balled his hand into a fist and then suddenly raised his arm in a threatening manner as he snarled, “You have no right to police my alcohol intake, you little?—”

“That’s enough!” Danny demanded, grabbing the man’s arm and twisting it so that it was lodged against the man’s back.

“Get off me!” the man growled as he bent forward, trying to buck Danny off him. Jackson appeared next to Danny, and the two men quickly subdued the man and hauled him out the front door.

“Don’t come back. Ever. Understand?” Jackson barked at the man.

Danny watched as the man flipped them off, jumped into a raised Ford Bronco, and then peeled off down the street, leaving black rubber marks on the road.

“He definitely shouldn’t be driving,” Danny said, frowning as he watched the Bronco speed away.

Jackson already had his phone to his ear. A second later, he said, “I need to report a drunk driver.”

Danny patted his friend on the shoulder and reached for the door. Before he could grab the handle, it swung open and Marissa came barreling through, colliding right into him.

She stumbled and placed her hands on his chest to catch her fall as the door slammed closed behind her. “Oomph!”

Danny grabbed her arms, steadying her. “Are you all right?”

“Of course I’m all right,” she said as she shook him off and then took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Is he gone?”

“Yes,” Jackson said, moving to stand next to Danny. “I called the sheriff to warn them he’s not safe.”

Her expression softened as she looked at Jackson. “Thank you for that.” Then she glanced at Danny again before asking Jackson, “Can you give us a minute?”

“Sure, boss.” Jackson nodded to Danny before disappearing back into the pub .

Once it was just the two of them, Marissa pressed her lips into a thin line before she said in a low, steady voice, “I didn’t need you to rescue me. I had it under control.” She held up the taser that had been in his vision. “I’m not the helpless female you think I am.”

Danny nodded. “I know you’re not helpless, but things were about to go south.”

“Ha! About to? They were already south, Danny,” she said, sounding exasperated. “I’m not sure who you think I am these days, but it’s not the naive nineteen-year-old you wouldn’t stick around and fight for sixteen years ago. How about you do me a favor and just stay out of my business now. All right? I can take care of myself.”

“Marissa—” he started, but she held her hand up.

“I don’t want to hear it. I’m sure you saw some vision, and instead of warning me so I could do something about it, you took matters into your own hands… again. Thanks, but no thanks.” She turned on her heel and stomped back into the pub.

Danny ran a hand through his hair and blew out a long breath. Coming to Sleighed had been a mistake. Marissa definitely wasn’t happy to see him. But there was no denying that he’d stopped that drunk from hurting her, and that was why he didn’t regret a thing.

Jackson walked back out and stood with his hands in his jacket pockets. He rocked back on his heels and said, “So, do you want to tell me what’s going on with you and Marissa?”

“There’s nothing going on,” Danny said, trying to ignore the pang of longing that always seemed to sneak up on him when he was talking about his ex. A light snow started to fall, making him even more melancholy. Marissa had always liked the snow. It was one of her favorite things. No wonder she’d moved to a place like Christmas Grove.

And maybe, if he was honest with himself, it might have been part of the reason why he had too.

“There’s definitely something there, man. Anyone can see it a mile away,” Jackson said.

Danny glanced at his friend and frowned. “There was at one time, but that’s ancient history. Now we’re just footnotes in each other’s stories who just happened to run into each other again.”

Jackson studied him. “History? I haven’t known Marissa to date in all the years I’ve worked here. It must be really old history.”

“Sixteen years,” Danny said and then started to walk toward his Toyota 4Runner that was parked at the end of the block. After he took a few steps, he glanced over his shoulder and said, “See you at sunrise.”

Jackson nodded once. “You bet.”

As Danny got into his SUV, Jackson’s words stuck in his mind. I haven’t known Marissa to date in all the years I’ve worked here. And although he wasn’t proud to admit it, that information made him happier than he had any right to be.